Jessica Hester, 7, looks for a pair of shoes while at Discount Shoes with her mother Wednesday. Merchants are expecting a busy weekend during the state's last sales tax holiday.

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Merchants are expecting a busy weekend during North Carolina's final sales tax holiday as shoppers stock up on back-to-school supplies, clothes, shoes and computers.

The savings add up to 7 percent in Buncombe County with state and local sales taxes. Merchants said the holiday prompts big business, and fear the economic effects of the holiday's discontinuation.

"Whether it's big box stores or independent retailers like ourselves, you are going to see a lot of people coming out this weekend. It's been a busy weekend for us historically," said Melissa Steele, manager of the Diamond Brand ...